Product Details

• Actors: John Gilkey, Franco Dragone, Chris Lashua, Philippe Azoulay, Matthew Baker
• Directors: David Mallet
• Producers: Peter Wagg, Rocky Oldham
• Format: Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: French
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: November 9, 1999
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00001YXH5
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #31,262 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When Cirque du Soleil first ventured beyond Canada's borders, its powerful, singularly ambitious "reinvention of the circus" seemed quixotic. Inspired by European precedents, this was a big top downsized to a more intimate, single ring, as the French-Canadian troupe jettisoned animals, banished the usual fright-wigged clowns in favor of funny folks versed in (gulp) pantomime, and focused on acrobats, contortionists, and illusionists. Conventional wisdom would have held that such esoterica was doomed, but anyone lucky enough to catch that initial Cirque production (or, for that matter, any of its subsequent offerings) knows just how wrong conventional wisdom can be.

Cirque's creative brain trust, including "guide" Guy Laliberte and director Franco Dragone, have crafted each production as an extended performance piece framed by recurrent characters, unified production design, and underlying themes. Already mesmerizing visual tableaux and astonishing illusions are given an added poignancy (and, occasionally, true gravity) by the productions' underlying comments about society, conformity, beauty, and emotion; even without such conscious motifs, however, Cirque's sheer artistry is never less than riveting.

Quidam revolves around an Everychild, living with self-absorbed (and deliberately archetypal) parents, who's whisked away to a vividly surreal world where Cirque's remarkable acrobats and artists take literal flight. Their tools are often prosaic--oversized flying rings, an open steel wheel large enough for a single inhabitant, skateboards, ropes--yet the resulting images are stunning. Injecting further drama and atmosphere is the score (here by musical director Benoit Jutras), which is as far removed from traditional circus music as Cirque's "acts" are from Barnum & Bailey. Performed with synthesizers, electric guitar, solo reed instruments, percussion, and voice (often singing in a kind of Esperanto that's tantalizing yet foreign), Cirque's music can be dismissed as New Age only until heard in its intended context.

Like three earlier video productions, Quidam can't quite achieve the sheer, enveloping wonder that its theatrical source does. But for fans of Cirque du Soleil's unique performance art, this latest presentation sustains the troupe's magic. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cirque Lovers Dream, December 17, 1999

By	Richard H. McNees (California) - See all my reviews

FINALLY! A superior capture of a Cirque du Soleil performance. I sufferied through the last two ("Novelle Experience" and "Saltimbanco") disappointing videos. Watching one missed opportunity after another, I had to draw from my memory of being at the performance to complete the picture. Or else I had to overcome annoying camera tricks. At last there is a film that enhances the experience of "Quidam" that surpasses the visions one gets from a a seat in the audience, and ALMOST equals the experience of being there.

Let me explain. Camera shots and close-ups are much improved over previous ventures (I have not seen the film of "Alegria"), and now are better integrated into the overall experience. Rather than trying to perform camera stunts of their own (there are some exceptions), the viewpoint tries to capture or comment on what is being filmed.. The sound quality (captured from a live performance) is supurb.

And the acts are wonderful. Many are actually more enjoyable [to me] than in my two live viewings because of the viewpoint of this film. While some are not as impressive as some past acts have been, the way the entire production encompasses their essence improves their impact. And some of the acts, quite frankly, are simply as good as it gets.

But in this instance, the whole is far greater than the parts. This has always been a Cirque trait, but is particularly evident in "Quidam". The vision that permeates every frame of this film, every motion of every performer, every brush stroke in every make-up, every note in the score, every stitch in every costume-- is as advanced as anything seen in any art-form -painting, dance, theater, music, athletic arts, light, sound, technical theatre --all fully expressed in one overwhelming artistic statement that produces no less than a state of awe. Hey, but that is what you expect from Cirque du Soleil.

You get it here. For the first time (in my humble opinion) on film. And now you can sit at home in comfort and admire it again and again-- and you can show your friends what it is like to be in a very special world of enchantment.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars for a 5 star show, November 24, 1999

By	Mark Wijman (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews

Finally it's here, Quidam on Video. My favourite touring show, with "O" taking the top marks in the fixed location department. After endless e-mails to Cirque's marketing department, on when it would be out, it comes just in time for Christmas. Shot in Amsterdam, The Netherlands back in April this year, the show does a great job capturing the images of the show. From the joyfully opening of Chris Lashua's German Wheel via the erotic Aerial contortion in silk by Isabelle Chasé to the heart-stopping Banquine finale by the entire cast. Many acts are shortend, espcially the playfull diabolos and hoop acts, others such as the Manipulation act, did not play in Amsterdam. However, the Manipulation act is replaced by the wonderfull Handbalancing, which used to alter with the diabolos back in the states but is back as a full act here. One thing is great though, and please Cirque take notice, One boring clown act per show is really enough, and really takes enough speed out of the show, Quidam would be even better without Les Malcoma and with another act!, John alone brings more laughs than those three idiots from France.

Having seen the show 11 times, I would certainly say that Quidam on Video is something else than Quidam live, feeling the bass in the tent during the Statue just adds to the whole experience. Being in the tent Cirque is a 360o experience something that is very difficult to capture on tape, even with Yet, the video provides 90 minutes of non-stop entertainment that is not to be missed. The quality of both the sound is so good, it eliminates the need for a Quidam live CD, since the orginal version just lacks many of the wonderful show tracks.

Indeed 5 stars for this video of this 5 star show. Simply because it does what it should do: it reminds you of a great night, it can't compete with it, but hey for the price you can't even buy a restricted view seat and then you certainly won't see and feel as much of the show as you do when you buy this wonderful tape. Now let's all keep our fingers crossed for a full version of Mystére on Video in 2003!, which shouldn't be that hard.....

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NOT A CIRCUS - A DREAM AWAKING, December 14, 1999

By	W. Paul Roberts (CINCINNASTI, OHIO) - See all my reviews

I have experienced Cirque du Soleil's 'Mystere' twice; unfortunately not 'Quidam' and had always hoped 'Mystere' would be released on video so I could watch it with my daughter - who listens to all of Cirque's soundtracks with me. When the 'Quidam' video came out (her and I had already memorized the soundtrack), we watched and cried and laughed in unison. Magic. At the end, she said: 'Dad, I feel so happy...and sad.' The Cirque du Soleil spirit is captured very well in both the video and the audio productions. John Gilky's pseudo-juggling antics are priceless and the angelic voice of Audrey Brisson-Jutras sends shivers up and down my spine. I wish she and her father - Cirque soundtrack composer Benoit Jutras - would release a musical project of their own (if they haven't already). If one has never seen a Cirque du Soleil show, this video is the next best thing. Be sure to have a big-screen TV, surround-sound stereo system, and an extra large tub of popcorn (but watch out for the usher).